Clonal analysis in the ultrastructure of cell-to-cell interaction between a human glioma cell line and autologous tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
The clonal analysis in the ultrastructure of tumor-lymphocyte interaction was carried out in order to investigate the precise mechanism responsible for CTL-mediated cytolysis of tumor cells. A glioma-derived cell line (GI-1) and autologous tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones were established. The CTL lines were composed of the morphologically homogeneous lymphocytes with intracytoplasmic electron-dense secretory granules. After the stimulation by GI-1, the size of the CTLs increased, and the intracytoplasmic organellas were developed. It was noted that the intracytoplasmic secretory granules markedly increased in number and size, and many of them exhibited an "immature" appearance. On the other hand, the tumor cells underwent a progressive degeneration. In contrast, the stimulation by other antigens caused only small morphological changes in the CTLs. It is suggested, therefore, that the secretory function of tumor-specific CTLs is activated by the stimulation of the specific antigen, and that soluble factors in the secretory granules in the CTLs may be closely associated with the mechanism of target cell lysis.
Iwasaki
K
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Medical School, Japan.
Kikuchi
H
H
Miyatake
S
S
Oda
Y
Y
Yamashita
J
J
Yamasaki
T
T
D002450:Cell Communication; D002999:Clone Cells; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005910:Glioma / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D008985:Monensin